Mourinho added: "Five points is a gap that is not a drama, but we have to try (to ensure) that the five-point gap doesn't open, at least.

"With a five-point gap (and) two matches (in) one week, everything can change.

"When you go instead of five to eight, nine, 10 (points), the situation is more complicated."

Mourinho, who won the title in 2005 and 2006 in his first two seasons with Chelsea, has long insisted the challenge on his return is more difficult, with a squad in transition.

He wants his players to have the mentality of one of the favourites, even if he believes other sides have a better title chance, after finding a team built for the short-term under his predecessor Rafael Benitez.

Mourinho added: "Benitez was chasing results. He was not worried about the building up of a team with a certain style. We didn't have a real base to start with.

"For many reasons we knew that the situation needs time and patience. We are competing against important teams in a very difficult league where you don't have one single easy match. We knew it would be difficult.

"We are not favourites, but we want to feel as favourites. We want to fight the favourites and we want to feel like we are.

"To put ourselves under a little bit of pressure only can help to be better. I want that."